Against the Flow

What happens when the majority isn't right?

I was in eighth grade and my classmate Kevin came over to me. He told me to sit down because he had a great joke to tell me. A few of the guys were smiling.

Two polar bears are sitting in a bathtub. The first one says, “Pass the soap.”

One of the onlookers started cracking up. As he left our little group, he kept laughing and repeating the words, “I can’t, I can’t…”

Kevin looked at me and finished the joke.

So again, two polar bears are sitting in a bathtub. The first one says, “Pass the soap.” And then … the second one says … [here Kevin had to hold himself in] … the second one says, “No soap, radio!”

At this point, the entire group gathered around started losing it. I don’t mean little chuckles. I mean loud, uproarious belly laughter.

I was the only person who didn’t get the joke. And they were starting to notice. So I started laughing too. This made everyone else laugh even more.

Only later did I realize why.

Kevin and the guys had set me up with a non-joke, a punch line lacking any humor at all. The whole point was to put me on the spot. They wanted to see if I would laugh along with the group just to fit in, despite having nothing funny to laugh at.

The joke was on me. And I fell for it.

The Asch Paradigm

A more scientific version of the now-famous “No Soap, Radio” joke was conducted by psychologist Solomon Asch. His experiments, published in 1953, have become famous for demonstrating the amazing power of conformity in groups.

Groups of eight students were invited to participate in vision tests. They were to look at two cards. One card had three lines of varying lengths. The other had one line, which matched the length of one of the lines on the other card. The stated goal was to check students’ vision and ask them to identify which of the three lines matched the length of the line on the other card. The differences in line length were both significant and obvious.

In truth, all of the participating students – with one exception in each session – were “in on the joke.” The “fake” students would, by prior agreement, give wrong answers and identify the wrong line. Dr. Asch was not interested in testing students’ vision. The goal was to see how the one “real” test participant would react: would he stand up for what his eyes clearly told him? Or would he change his answer in order to avoid sticking out and looking foolish?

The results were astounding. Seventy-five percent agreed with the incorrect answers at least once. The more “fake” participants there were, the higher the proportion of incorrect answers given by the “real” participant. The more uniform the “fake” participants were in their incorrect answers, the higher the proportion of incorrect answers given by the “real” participant.

To avoid standing out, a large percentage of people go along with an incorrect majority.

Dr. Asch’s experiments taught that in order to avoid standing out, a large percentage of people will go along with an incorrect majority, even when the majority’s mistake seems very obvious.

But a question always lingered about the Asch Paradigm. Did the “real” participants choose to lie to avoid potential embarrassment, or did they somehow come to really agree with the “fake” participants’ (incorrect) answers?

In 2005, Dr. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist from Emory University in Atlanta, conducted Asch-type experiments while monitoring the brain’s activity using M.R.I. scanners. His findings were later published in the Biological Psychiatry journal.

Dr. Berns’ approach was based on an amazing realization. If subjects were consciously lying, the M.R.I. should show activity and change in the frontal areas of the brain that deal with conscious decision-making and conflict resolution. If, on the other hand, the subjects somehow came to believe the group’s (incorrect) answers, activity and changes should appear in the back areas of the brain that deal with vision and objective spatial perception.

Confirming the Asch paradigm once again, Dr. Berns and his team found that “real” participants often agreed with the group’s obviously incorrect answers.

The M.R.I. scans were even more revealing. Scans of “real” participants who conformed to the group’s incorrect answers revealed activity in areas of the brain devoted to vision and objective perception. No activity was recorded in areas devoted to decision-making and conflict resolution.

In other words, when faced with a majority opinion that is clearly contrary to physical reality, almost half of the population will not only go along with the majority, but will come to actually believe that the majority is right.

Swimming Upstream

It is understandable to prefer going along with the flow. Nobody wants to stand out. It is lonely. It is uncomfortable. Occasionally, it can be dangerous. There is safety in numbers. And comfort. Life isn’t easy. Why make it harder by disagreeing with the majority?

On the other hand, sometimes the Emperor really has no clothes.

Going along with the majority is problematic because of its inherent falsehood. Furthermore, it also leads down a terrible path. Societal norms have often caused terrible tragedies. Majorities in many societies of the past practiced human sacrifice. The ancient Greeks practiced infanticide if the baby was deformed, dull, or, often, female. The ancient Romans’ favorite societal pastime was watching starved animals, or gladiators, attack, maim, and kill innocent women and children whose great offense was being born in foreign lands. More recently, Hitler was elected in a democratic election by the German electorate. And terrorists enjoy wide support in certain countries. Is the majority always right?

Tool of Resistance

Abraham was a “Hebrew,” an English version of the Bible’s term “Ivri,” which refers to the fact that he was “oh-ver” – he had crossed to the other side. He stood on one side of a great philosophical debate (monotheism versus idolatry) and held his ground, even though the whole world was on the other side. We are a nation of Hebrews – we stand up for truth. Russian anthropologist Michael Chlenov perhaps put it best when he wrote that, “Judaism is a tool of resistance.” Throughout history, the presence of a distinct Jewish community has always been a clear challenge to absolutist claims and majority rule.

Being Jewish means rejecting the status quo.

The Assyrians worshipped idols and bid us to do the same. We refused and, directly and indirectly, reminded the world that the Assyrian view was not the only way of understanding life.

The Greeks admired the human body above all else, while we taught that the soul is supreme.

Roman society was brutal (gladiators versus innocent men and women) and shockingly sexualized (pedophilia was widely practiced). We were examples of kindness and monogamy.

Throughout history, our commitment to our beliefs has challenged the conventional wisdom. This has often provoked no little antagonism. Yet we have stood firm against the winds. We have opposed and continue to oppose idol worship, rampant materialism, and consumerism. We strive to reject falsehood, evil, and immorality.

Being Jewish is a wonderful privilege and opportunity. It means being committed to seeking the truth. To admiring and developing knowledge and wisdom. It means focusing on a better future, and working towards it. It means standing up against the world’s false gods – whatever they may be in any given generation – and rejecting the status quo as acceptable.

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About the Author

Doron Kornbluth is a sought-after international speaker who teaches all types of audiences in over 50 cities a year. An inspirational licensed tour guide in Israel, Doron is also the bestselling author of Why Be Jewish? and Raising Kids to LOVE Being Jewish. He can be reached at www.doronkornbluth.com.

Visitor Comments: 14

(14)
v.d.r.,
December 14, 2011 6:31 PM

Very interesting

One has to be strong not to let the flow push us over. Sadly, some of our own have become like the very societies we are taught not to follow. This was a very vital issue, now, with all the bullying going on in schools.

(13)
Anonymous,
December 2, 2011 3:53 AM

What a beautiful people! May Hashem allow me to join Am Yisrael soon.

(12)
Tomas,
December 1, 2011 1:02 PM

This article expresses some of my innermost feelings.

I am a Noahide and live in the Czech Republic. I have painfully learned the value of being allowed to be one's own person, as well as the traumas of being coerced to norms that feel alien and wrong. For a long time I was being exposed to the bigoted Roman Catholicism of my parents and to the idiocy of the former Communist regime in my country, and these days I feel the societal pressure to conform to the philosophy of greed and cynical materialism. My journey to adopting the Jewish worldview and committing myself to be a Noahide was a long one and I won't go into its details. However, I wish to point out that, prior to reading this very article, I have strongly felt my faith in Judaism to be a tool of an immense value which enables me to stick to the principles and values that I feel to be ethical and to resist pressures to follow the herd. The book from which the article is excerpted seems not to be avaliable at amazon yet, but I am really looking forward to read it.

(11)
Anonymous,
December 1, 2011 4:57 AM

SO AMAZING!!! Just to add on, in our language ivirit, the first letter is an aleph the middle is a mem and the lest letter is a tuff, together it spells EMET!! once again truth is coming through in our language!!

(10)
Eliav Friedman,
November 30, 2011 1:33 PM

Doron does it again

Another brilliant argument written beautifully. Doron has a gift for expressing the unique historical mission of us Jews in a most inspiring way. Keep up the good work!

(9)
Dan,
November 29, 2011 5:18 AM

Faith, the yellow brick road

I have a habit of being unconventional (not purposely), so I really appreciate this article. Thank you Aish. I come from a family of independent thinkers, some family members refer to it as being "stupid stubborn". This trait has led to the development of a medical treatment that seemed impossible and an engineering feat that people in the field don't understand, and that's just 2 family members. Faith means not just seeing a different route, but being willing to pursue it. Did G-d split the water because G-d was going to anyway, or because Nachson believed G-d was going to? If we allow G-d into our lives, and believe that G-d will be an integral part of it, is G-d more likely to become an (obviously) integral part it? I believe so. I believe that if we put our foot forward, with absolute faith, G-d will show us the way. Being an independent thinker is certainly not a very comfortable thing most of the time. There was a time when if you said the earth was round you'd not only have been laughed at or called a heretic, you might have been thrown in a sanitarium. It takes courage and perseverance to grow against the flow and sometimes the willingness to lose the respect of people you care about. At the same time, you have to respect others, even if they don't agree with you or see your point. One day you may be able to prove your point, but faith means knowing that that day may never come and still believing. We look back at the parting of the sea as a given; of course it parted. But did you ever ask yourself, if you were there, would you have been the first to put your foot forward? Would you have believed everything that Moses said? We're told not to have faith in any man, only in G-d. How can we tell when it's okay to believe that someone actually "represents" G-d? Perhaps by recognizing that not only do a persons words, but also his actions, indicate a fear, respect and love of G-d. In particular, in the way he treats others.

(8)
Bren Pratt,
November 27, 2011 10:19 PM

Noah .. stood the test

Noah...a preacher of righteousness in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation

(7)
Alan S.,
November 27, 2011 8:50 PM

Not only do many cast their lot with the majority, a la 'the wisdom of the crowds', but many often espouse the party line even when it obviously goes against their own self interests. Thomas Frank's 2004 book, What's the matter with Kansas", essentially showed that people often vote against policies that might be beneficial to their self interests.

(6)
Anonymous,
November 27, 2011 7:43 PM

The best reason to be proud of our Jewish heritage I have heard in a long time

See above

(5)
Harry Pearle,
November 27, 2011 6:39 PM

Economic Decline Blamed on Education?

I disagree with the majority views on the economy, right now. Everyone seems to be blaming someone else. But I think the we are all to blame, because we are not advancing our learning and training. The majority sit and wait for some external change in the politics or the markets.....I try to make my case, but people do not listen...Perhaps some economic answers will come from Israeli sources... blog; ECONOMYWISEUP.com

(4)
opensoc,
November 27, 2011 5:50 PM

the Hierarchy paradigm

The size of the purse often outplays the majority opinion.If you are rich, you are right and everybody kowtows to your irrational pronouncements. Sadly the rule in the world at large, and .we Jews are not starnge to it either.

(3)
ruth housman,
November 27, 2011 4:36 PM

conformity and the outsider

I found this very interesting. In Judaism itself, of course we have our non conformists, and they had been ostracized by the majority, such as recorded in Steinberg's book, A Driven Leaf.
There is a "party line" here too, that we should be made aware of, and rebels in Judaism are often given the cold shoulder as no news, is good news, as in a breath of what might be fresh air is disregarded, and put out, as a candle is snuffed.
So Yes to what you have written, and I would say, the Greeks provided something of great value to our civilization, and all cultures, so I would be careful throwing swords at them, and at others, as it's ALL G_D, meaning the entire story, from top to bottom, from east to west, north and south.
Our story is predicated on those "other" stories, and we too, need to let in, new voices, and the discomfort of hearing something really different, that just might, open doors, new windows on consicousness.

(2)
Anonymous,
November 27, 2011 4:16 PM

Inspiring

Thank you for this inspiring historical and moral reminder in support of each individual's responsibility to live committed to the truth; let the chips fall where they may.

(1)
sonia,
November 27, 2011 12:49 PM

This is the story of my life!

I felt so relieved by reading this articcle. I have felt, so many times in my life, that I was going against the mainstream... just because the aminstream was not logical...
Two years ago Argentina was flodded with the fear of swine flu. Schools and cinemas closed and everybody thinking thousands were dying every day. As a boichemist, I saw there was no more than a bit more of flu, angina, and all winter colds.. but people could not see it... I had a feeling of profound loneliness as I saw madness sweeping the place and money spent in needless antiviral medicine. By reading this, I remember how people would no see the logical and believe what everyone felt.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...